Monitoring and Control System for a Flow Duct

ABSTRACT

A monitoring and control system for a flow duct and a method for determining a component status of an operational component disposed within a flow passage of the flow duct utilizing the system are provided. In one exemplary aspect, the system includes at least two sensors that are disposed within the flow passage and configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid flowing therethrough. The sensors may be averaging sensors. Each sensor extends circumferentially about an axial centerline defined by the flow duct. The sensors are arranged in an overlapped arrangement. Particularly, the sensors extend circumferentially about the axial centerline such that the sensors physically overlap one another circumferentially. Additionally, the sensors may be disposed within the same or substantially the same plane axially. Signals generated by the sensors may be utilized to monitor and control the fluid and various operational components disposed within the flow passage.

FIELD

The present subject matter relates generally to a monitoring and controlsystem for a flow duct, such as e.g., a flow duct of a turbine engine.

BACKGROUND

Generally, it is desirable to sense one or more characteristics of afluid flowing through a flow duct. For instance, sensing one or morecharacteristics of an airflow flowing through an annular high bypassduct of a turbofan engine may provide insight into the performance ofthe engine or one or more operational components thereof. For example,sensed fluid characteristics may provide insight into whether a heatexchanger disposed within the bypass duct is operating properly.

Conventional sensor arrangements for sensing fluid characteristics of afluid flowing through a flow duct include: placing a single annularsensor along the flow passage, segmenting sensors and aligning themend-to-end circumferentially about the flow passage, and placing one ormore radially extending sensors into the flow passage. While a highlevel of granularity or detail about the characteristics of a fluidpassing through a flow duct is desirable, achieving additionalgranularity with such conventional sensor arrangements requires addingadditional or higher fidelity sensors. Additional sensors add weight andcost to the system while higher fidelity sensors can add considerablecost to the system.

Accordingly, a system and methods of operating the same that address oneor more of the challenges noted above would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for a flowduct defining a flow passage and an axial direction, a radial direction,and a circumferential direction. The system includes a first sensorextending along the circumferential direction within the flow passage.The system also includes a second sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage, wherein the firstsensor extends along the circumferential direction such that at least aportion of the first sensor physically overlaps the second sensor alongthe circumferential direction.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method fordetermining a component status of an operational component disposedwithin a flow passage defined by a flow duct utilizing a system. Theflow duct defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and acircumferential direction. The system comprises a first averaging sensorextending along the circumferential direction within the flow passageand a second averaging sensor extending along the circumferentialdirection within the flow passage. The method includes flowing a fluidthrough the flow passage. The method also includes receiving a firstsignal from the first averaging sensor indicative of a characteristic ofthe fluid proximate the first averaging sensor. The method furtherincludes receiving a second signal from the second averaging sensorindicative of a characteristic of the fluid proximate the secondaveraging sensor, wherein the first averaging sensor and the secondaveraging sensor at least partially physically overlap one another alongthe circumferential direction. Moreover, the method includes determiningthe component status of the operational component based at least in parton the first signal and the second signal. In addition, the methodincludes generating a control action based at least in part on thecomponent status of the operational component.

In a further aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system fora flow duct defining a flow passage for receiving a fluid therethrough.The flow duct further defines an axial direction, a radial direction,and a circumferential direction. The system includes a first averagingsensor extending along the circumferential direction within the flowpassage. The system also includes a second averaging sensor extendingalong the circumferential direction within the flow passage. Further,the system includes a third averaging sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage, wherein the secondaveraging sensor extends along the circumferential direction such thatat least a portion of the second averaging sensor physically overlapsthe first averaging sensor along the circumferential direction and suchthat at least a portion of the second averaging sensor physicallyoverlaps the third averaging sensor along the circumferential direction,and wherein the first averaging sensor, the second averaging sensor, andthe third averaging sensor are positioned proximate one another alongthe axial direction.

In some embodiments, the flow duct is a pipe for use in a chemicalprocess plant.

In some embodiments, the flow duct is a pipe in a petroleum refinery.

In some embodiments, the flow duct is a pipe or tube in a power plant.

In some embodiments, the flow duct is at least a portion of a core airflowpath of a turbine engine.

In some embodiments, the flow duct is an annular bypass duct of a gasturbine engine.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 provides a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a gasturbine engine that may be utilized to produce thrust for an aircraft inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of an exemplarymonitoring and control system for a flow duct in accordance with aspectsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of the exemplary flow duct of FIG. 2depicting sensors of the system disposed within a flow passage definedby the flow duct in an overlapped arrangement;

FIG. 4 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of anotherexemplary monitoring and control system in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of yet anotherexemplary monitoring and control system in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of a furtherexemplary monitoring and control system in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 provides a block diagram of an exemplary process flow of anexemplary monitoring and control system in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 provides a flow diagram of an exemplary method (200) fordetermining a component status of an operational component disposedwithin a flow passage defined by a flow duct utilizing a systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, as used herein,terms of approximation, such as “approximately,” “substantially,” or“about,” refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin of error.

In general, the present disclosure is directed to a monitoring andcontrol system for a flow duct and a method for determining a componentstatus of an operational component disposed within a flow passage of theflow duct utilizing the system. In one exemplary aspect, the systemincludes at least two sensors that are disposed within the flow passageand configured to sense or measure a characteristic of a fluid flowingwithin the flow passage of the duct. The sensors may be averagingsensors. Each sensor extends circumferentially about an axial centerlinedefined by the flow duct. More particularly, the sensors are arranged inan overlapped arrangement. That is, the sensors extend circumferentiallyabout the axial centerline such that the sensors physically overlap oneanother circumferentially. Additionally, the sensors may be disposedwithin the same or substantially the same plane axially. The overlappedarrangement of the sensors defines more sensing regions than sensors,thus improving sensing capability. Overlapped regions and non-overlappedregions defined by the sensors may be strategically aligned axially,radially, and circumferentially proximate various operational componentsto detect the performance of such operational components. In this way, acomponent state of one or more operational components may be determinedand appropriate control actions may be generated accordingly to controlthe system. Although the inventive aspects of the present disclosure arediscussed with reference generally to a turbine engine, it will beappreciated that the inventive aspects of the present disclosure may beincorporated into many different applications and may be implemented inmany industries.

FIG. 1 provides a schematic cross-sectional view of a gas turbine enginein accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.More particularly, for the embodiment of FIG. 1, the gas turbine engineis a high-bypass turbofan jet engine 10, referred to herein as “turbofan10.” As shown in FIG. 1, the turbofan 10 defines an axial direction A(extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline 12 provided forreference), a radial direction R, and a circumferential direction C. Ingeneral, the axial direction A extends parallel to the longitudinalcenterline 12, the radial direction R extends orthogonally to or fromthe longitudinal axis 12, and the circumferential direction C extendsaround the longitudinal centerline 12.

In general, the turbofan 10 includes a fan section 14 and a core turbineengine 16 disposed downstream of the fan section 14. The core turbineengine 16 depicted generally includes a substantially tubular outercasing 18 that defines an annular core inlet 20. The outer casing 18encases, in serial flow relationship, a compressor section including abooster or low pressure (LP) compressor 22 and a high pressure (HP)compressor 24; a combustion section 26; a turbine section including ahigh pressure (HP) turbine 28 and a low pressure (LP) turbine 30; and ajet exhaust nozzle section 32. A high pressure (HP) shaft or spool 34drivingly connects the HP turbine 28 to the HP compressor 24. A lowpressure (LP) shaft or spool 36 drivingly connects the LP turbine 30 tothe LP compressor 22. The compressor section, combustion section 26,turbine section, and nozzle section 32 together define a core airflowpath 37. Additionally, a space between the casing 18 and thecompressors 22, 24, a combustor of the combustion section 26, and theturbines 28, 30 may be referred to as an “under-cowl” area.

The fan section 14 includes a fan 38 having a plurality of fan blades 40coupled to a disk 42 in a spaced apart manner. As depicted, the fanblades 40 extend outwardly from disk 42 generally along the radialdirection R. The fan blades 40 and disk 42 are together rotatable aboutthe longitudinal axis 12 by the LP shaft 36. For this embodiment, thefan blades 40 and disk 42 are together rotatable about the longitudinalaxis 12 by the LP shaft 36 across a reduction gearbox/power gearbox 46.The reduction gearbox 46 includes a plurality of gears for adjusting orreducing the rotational speed of the fan 38 relative to the LP shaft 36to a more efficient rotational fan speed. In some embodiments, however,turbofan 10 does not include a reduction gearbox 46.

Referring still to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the disk 42 iscovered by a rotatable spinner or front hub 48 aerodynamically contouredto promote an airflow through the plurality of fan blades 40.Additionally, the exemplary fan section 14 includes an annular fancasing or outer nacelle 50 that circumferentially surrounds the fan 38and a portion of the core turbine engine 16. The exemplary nacelle 50 issupported relative to the core turbine engine 16 by a plurality ofcircumferentially-spaced outlet guide vanes 52. Moreover, a downstreamsection 54 of the nacelle 50 extends over an outer portion of the coreturbine engine 16 so as to define an annular bypass airflow passage 56therebetween. In some embodiments, the nacelle 50 may extendsubstantially along or along the full axial length of the core turbineengine 16 such that turbofan 10 is a long-duct, mix-flow turbofan. Inyet other embodiments, nacelle 50 may extend annularly around the coreturbine engine 116 such that turbofan 10 is a low-bypass, mixed flowengine with a fixed or variable exhaust nozzle at nozzle section 32.

During operation of the turbofan 10, a volume of air 58 enters theturbofan 10 through an associated inlet 60 of the nacelle 50 and/or fansection 14 and passes across the fan blades 40. The volume of air 58 isthen split at a flow splitter 51 into a first portion of air 62 that isdirected or routed into the bypass airflow passage 56 and a secondportion of air 64 is directed or routed into the annular core inlet 20of the core air flowpath 37. The ratio between the first portion of air62 and the second portion of air 64 is commonly known as a bypass ratio.The pressure of the second portion of air 64 is first increased by thebooster or LP compressor 22 and is further increased as it is routedthrough the HP compressor 24. The compressed first portion of air 64flows into the combustion section 26 where it is mixed with fuel andburned to provide combustion gases 66.

The combustion gases 66 are routed through the HP turbine 28 where aportion of thermal and/or kinetic energy from the combustion gases 66 isextracted via sequential stages of HP turbine stator vanes 68 that arecoupled to the outer casing 18 and HP turbine rotor blades 70 that arecoupled to the HP shaft or spool 34, thus causing the HP shaft or spool34 to rotate, thereby supporting operation of the HP compressor 24. Thecombustion gases 66 are then routed through the LP turbine 30 where asecond portion of thermal and kinetic energy is extracted from thecombustion gases 66 via sequential stages of LP turbine stator vanes 72that are coupled to the outer casing 18 and LP turbine rotor blades 74that are coupled to the LP shaft or spool 36, thus causing the LP shaftor spool 36 to rotate, thereby supporting operation of the LP compressor22 and/or rotation of the fan 38.

The combustion gases 66 are subsequently routed through the jet exhaustnozzle section 32 of the core turbine engine 16 to provide propulsivethrust. Simultaneously, the pressure of the first portion of air 62 issubstantially increased as the first portion of air 62 is routed throughthe bypass airflow passage 56 before it is exhausted from a fan nozzleexhaust section 76 of the turbofan 10, also providing propulsive thrust.The HP turbine 28, the LP turbine 30, and the jet exhaust nozzle section32 at least partially define a hot gas path 78 for routing thecombustion gases 66 through the core turbine engine 16.

In addition, as further shown in FIG. 1, the turbofan 10 includes acontroller 90 operatively configured to control various aspects of theturbofan 10, such as e.g., controlling and monitoring variouscharacteristics of the fluid flowing through one or more flow ducts ofthe turbofan 10, e.g., the bypass airflow passage 56 or the core airflowpath 37. The controller 90 can be, for example, an Electronic EngineController (EEC) or a Digital Engine Controller (DEC) equipped with FullAuthority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The controller 90 can includeone or more processor(s) and one or more memory device(s). The one ormore processor(s) can include any suitable processing device, such as amicroprocessor, microcontroller, integrated circuit, logic device,and/or other suitable processing device. The one or more memorydevice(s) can include one or more computer-readable media, including,but not limited to, non-transitory computer-readable media, RAM, ROM,hard drives, flash drives, and/or other memory devices.

The one or more memory device(s) can store information accessible by theone or more processor(s), including computer-readable instructions thatcan be executed by the one or more processor(s). The instructions can beany set of instructions that when executed by the one or moreprocessor(s), cause the one or more processor(s) to perform operations.In some embodiments, the instructions can be executed by the one or moreprocessor(s) to cause the one or more processor(s) to performoperations, such as any of the operations and functions for whichcontroller 90 is configured. The instructions can be software written inany suitable programming language or can be implemented in hardware.Additionally, and/or alternatively, the instructions can be executed inlogically and/or virtually separate threads on processor(s). The memorydevice(s) can further store data that can be accessed by the one or moreprocessor(s). For example, the data can include various thresholds thatfacilitate transitioning between gain states for actuating components,as will be described in greater detail herein. The data can be stored inone of the memory device(s) of controller 90, which can be downloaded ortransmitted to other computing systems, such as e.g., an offboardcomputing system.

The controller 90 can also include a communication interface forcommunicating with the other components (e.g., actuating components oractuators configured to actuate such components) via a communicationbus. The communication interface can include any suitable components forinterfacing with one or more network(s), including e.g., transmitters,receivers, ports, controllers, antennas, and/or other suitablecomponents.

The controller 90 may be communicatively coupled with a communicationnetwork. Communication network can include, for example, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), SATCOM network, VHF network, aHF network, a Wi-Fi network, a WiMAX network, a gatelink network, and/orany other suitable communications network for transmitting messages toand/or from the controller 90 to other computing systems. Suchnetworking environments may use a wide variety of communicationprotocols and standards, such as e.g., Ethernet, CAT, ARINC standards.

The exemplary turbofan 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is provided as an exampleonly. In other exemplary embodiments, the turbofan 10 may have any othersuitable configuration. For example, in other exemplary embodiments,aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated into, e.g., aturboshaft engine, turboprop engine, turbocore engine, turbojet engine,an aeroderivative engine, industrial turbine engines, etc. Moreover,aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated into other typesof engines, such as steam turbine engines. In addition, in otherexemplary embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure may beincorporated into other systems or applications having a flow duct. Forinstance, aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated intoflow ducts of the chemical process plants, petroleum refineries, coverpipelines (e.g., steam-pipes), power plants, industrial burners (e.g.,coal-fired power plants), industrial coolers (e.g., large-scale HVAC orrefrigeration systems), industrial heat exchangers, etc.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of an exemplarymonitoring and control system 100 for a flow duct 110 in accordance withexemplary aspects of the present disclosure. Generally, the monitoringand control system 100 is operatively configured for sensing andmonitoring characteristics of the fluid flowing through a flow passage112 defined by the flow duct 110. As one example, the flow duct 110 maybe the annular flow duct formed by the casing 18 and nacelle 50 of theturbofan 10 of FIG. 1 and the flow passage may be the bypass airflowpassage 56. Example characteristics of the fluid that may be sensed andmonitored by the system 100 include the pressure and temperature of thefluid flowing within the flow duct 110. Moreover, other characteristicsmay be sensed and monitored, such as e.g., mass flow. Further, thesystem 100 is operatively configured to control various operationalcomponents based at least in part on the sensed and monitoredcharacteristics of the fluid flowing through the flow passage 112 of theflow duct 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flow duct 110 defines an axial direction A, aradial direction R, and a circumferential direction C. The flow duct 110also defines an axial centerline AC extending through its center alongthe axial direction A. Generally, the axial direction A extends parallelto the axial centerline AC, the radial direction R extends orthogonallyto and from the axial centerline AC, and the circumferential direction Cextends around the axial centerline AC.

For this embodiment, the flow duct 110 is an annular flow duct.Particularly, the flow duct 110 includes an inner wall 114 and an outerwall 116 spaced from the inner wall 114, e.g., along the radialdirection R. For instance, the inner wall 114 may be the casing 18 andthe outer wall 116 may be the nacelle 50 of the turbofan 10 of FIG. 1.In other embodiments, the inner wall 114 may be an inner duct wall andthe outer wall 116 may be an outer duct wall of the core air flowpath 37of the turbofan 10 of FIG. 1. Although the flow duct is depicted in FIG.2 as having a generally annular shape, in other exemplary embodiments,the flow duct 110 may be a tube, pipe, generally circular, elliptical,oval-shaped, or some other cross section having some degree ofcurvature.

The system 100 depicted in FIG. 2 includes a controller 120 and aplurality of sensors arranged in an overlapping or overlappedarrangement. The controller 120 may be the controller 90 of the turbofan10 of FIG. 1, for example. The controller 120 is communicatively coupledwith the plurality of sensors, e.g., by any suitable wired or wirelessconnection. For this embodiment, the system 100 includes a first sensor121 extending along the circumferential direction C within the flowpassage 112, a second sensor 122 extending along the circumferentialdirection C within the flow passage 112, a third sensor 123 extendingalong the circumferential direction C within the flow passage 112, and afourth sensor 124 extending along the circumferential direction C withinthe flow passage 112. Each sensor 121, 122, 123, 124 is coupled with theouter wall 116 by one or more coupling members 118. The coupling members118 structurally support and hold the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 inplace. Additionally or alternatively, the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 maybe coupled with the inner wall 114. Further, for this embodiment, thesensors 121, 122, 123, 124 are disposed within the flow passageapproximately midway between the inner wall 114 and the outer wall 116,e.g., along the radial direction R. In this way, the readings by thesensors 121, 122, 123, 124 are not or minimally affected by boundarylayers along the surfaces of the inner and outer walls 114, 116. In someembodiments, the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 are disposed at or aboutmidway between the outer surface of the inner wall 114 and the innersurface of the outer wall 116, e.g., along the radial direction R.Further in some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 121, 122, 123,124 may be affixed to inner wall 114 and/or one or more of the sensors121, 122, 123, 124 may be affixed to outer wall 116.

Moreover, for this embodiment, the first, second, third, and fourthsensors 121, 122, 123, 124 are each averaging sensors. That is, eachsensor is configured to sense or take an average of a characteristic ofthe fluid proximate their respective locations. For instance, the firstsensor 121 is configured to sense or take an average of a characteristicof the fluid proximate the first sensor 121, the second sensor 122 isconfigured to sense or take an average of a characteristic of the fluidproximate the second sensor 122, and so on. The first, second, third,and fourth sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 may be any suitable type ofaveraging sensor. As one example, in some embodiments, the sensors 121,122, 123, 124 are resistance temperature detectors (RTD) ribbon sensorsconfigured for sensing or taking the average temperature of the fluidflowing through the flow passage 112 at their respective locations. Asanother example, the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 may be averagingpressure sensors.

As noted above, the sensors 121, 122, 123, and 124 of the system 100have an overlapped arrangement. More particularly, for this embodiment,the first sensor 121 extends along the circumferential direction C suchthat at least a portion of the first sensor 121 physically overlaps thesecond sensor 122 along the circumferential direction C. Thus, thesecond sensor 122 also physically overlaps the first sensor 121 alongthe circumferential direction C. That is, at least a portion of thefirst sensor 121 and at least a portion of the second sensor 122physically extend along the same portion or arc segment of the arc aboutthe axial centerline AC. As further shown, the second sensor 122 extendsalong the circumferential direction C such that at least a portion ofthe second sensor 122 physically overlaps the third sensor 123 along thecircumferential direction C. Consequently, the third sensor 123 alsophysically overlaps the second sensor 122 along the circumferentialdirection C. The third sensor 123 extends along the circumferentialdirection C such that at least a portion of the third sensor 123physically overlaps the fourth sensor 124 along the circumferentialdirection C. Accordingly, the fourth sensor 124 also physically overlapsthe third sensor 123 along the circumferential direction C. In addition,the fourth sensor 124 extends along the circumferential direction C suchthat at least a portion of the fourth sensor 124 physically overlaps thefirst sensor 121 along the circumferential direction C. Accordingly, thefirst sensor 121 also physically overlaps the fourth sensor 124 alongthe circumferential direction C.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the first and second sensors 121, 122 definea first overlap sensing region SR1 along the circumferential direction Cwhere the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 physically overlapone another along the circumferential direction C. The second and thirdsensors 122, 123 define a second overlap sensing region SR2 along thecircumferential direction C where the second sensor 122 and the thirdsensor 123 physically overlap one another along the circumferentialdirection C. The third and fourth sensors 123, 124 define a thirdoverlap sensing region SR3 along the circumferential direction C wherethe third sensor 123 and the fourth sensor 124 physically overlap oneanother along the circumferential direction C. The fourth and firstsensors 124, 121 define a fourth overlap sensing region SR4 along thecircumferential direction C where the fourth sensor 124 and the firstsensor 121 physically overlap one another along the circumferentialdirection C.

In addition, the first sensor 121 defines a first sensing region S1along the circumferential direction C where the first sensor 121 doesnot overlap with either the second sensor 122 or the fourth sensor 124along the circumferential direction C. The second sensor 122 defines asecond sensing region S2 along the circumferential direction C where thesecond sensor 122 does not overlap with either the first sensor 121 orthe third sensor 123 along the circumferential direction C. The thirdsensor 123 defines a third sensing region S3 along the circumferentialdirection C where the third sensor 123 does not overlap with either thesecond sensor 122 or the fourth sensor 124 along the circumferentialdirection C. The fourth sensor 124 defines a fourth sensing region S4along the circumferential direction C where the fourth sensor 124 doesnot overlap with either the third sensor 123 or the first sensor 121along the circumferential direction C. Accordingly, for this embodiment,there are four (4) sensing regions S1, S2, S3, and S4 and four (4)overlap sensing regions SR1, SR2, SR3, and SR4 interspersed with thesensing regions in an alternating arrangement. Advantageously, for thisembodiment, a total of eight (8) sensing zones or regions are createdwith only four (4) sensors, i.e., the first, second, third, and fourthsensors 121, 122, 123, 124. Thus, the fluid characteristic orcharacteristics of the fluid flowing through the flow passage 112 of theflow duct 110 may be sensed with a higher level of fidelity or exactnessat particular locations within the flow passage 112 than could otherwisebe achieved without the overlapped arrangement of the sensors. In thismanner, as will be explained more fully below, the system 100 can bettermonitor the component state of one or more operational componentsdisposed within or proximate the flow passage 112.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of the exemplary flow duct 110 ofFIG. 2 depicting the sensors of the system 100 disposed within the flowpassage 112 in an overlapped arrangement. As shown in FIG. 3, the firstsensor 121, the second sensor 122, the third sensor 123, and the fourthsensor 124 each extend along the circumferential direction C within theflow passage 112 in the same or substantially the same plane along theaxial direction A. In some embodiments, “substantially the same plane”means that the noted sensors are within one foot of each other along theaxial direction A. In particular, for this embodiment, the sensors 121,122, 123, 124 are disposed in an overlapped arrangement and extend alongthe circumferential direction C within the flow passage 112 in a planethat is orthogonal to the axial direction A. In this way, when thesensors 121, 122, 123, 124 sense a particular characteristic of thefluid flowing through the flow passage 112 of the flow duct 110, thesensors sense characteristics of the fluid flow at that particularplane. This may provide a better of the flow's uniformity through theflow passage 112.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 maycollectively extend about the annular flow passage 112. In this way, thesensors 121, 122, 123, 124 collectively form an annular sensing ring.Although only one annular sensing ring is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, itwill be appreciated that the system 100 may include multiple annularsensing rings spaced from one another, e.g., along the axial directionA. In this way, characteristics of the fluid flow through the flowpassage 112 may be sensed at a first axial plane (a first planeorthogonal to the axial direction A) and again at a second axial plane(a second plane orthogonal to the axial direction A). However, asexplained more fully below, the sensors of the system need notcollectively extend entirely around the annulus of the flow passage 112.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of anotherexemplary monitoring and control system 100 in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the system 100includes a first sensor 121 disposed within the flow passage 112 andextending along the circumferential direction C and a second sensor 122disposed within the flow passage 112 and extending along thecircumferential direction C. In contrast with the system 100 of FIG. 2,for this embodiment, the system 100 includes only a first and secondsensor 121, 122 and the sensors 121, 122 collectively do not extendaround the entire annulus of the flow passage 112. Rather, the sensors121, 122 form a partial annular sensing ring or a ring segment. Notably,the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 are in an overlappedarrangement. That is, at least a portion of the first sensor 121 and atleast a portion of the second sensor 122 physically extend along thecircumferential direction C along the same portion or arc segment of thearc about the axial centerline AC. Accordingly, as shown, the first andsecond sensors 121, 122 define a first overlap sensing region SR1extending along the circumferential direction C where the first sensor121 and the second sensor 122 physically overlap one another. Inaddition, the first sensor 121 defines a first sensing region S1 alongthe circumferential direction C where the first sensor 121 does notoverlap with the second sensor 122 and the second sensor 122 defines asecond sensing region S2 along the circumferential direction C where thesecond sensor 122 does not overlap with the first sensor 121.

In some embodiments, however, the first and second sensors 121, 122 maycollectively form an annular sensing ring. In such embodiments, thefirst and second sensors 121, 122 define a first overlap sensing regionalong the circumferential direction C where the first sensor 121 and thesecond sensor 122 physically overlap one another at a first locationalong the circumferential direction C and a second overlap sensingregion along the circumferential direction C where the first sensor 121and the second sensor 122 physically overlap one another at a secondlocation along the circumferential direction C. The first sensor 121defines a first sensing region along the circumferential direction Cwhere the first sensor 121 does not overlap with the second sensor 122and the second sensor 122 defines a second sensing region along thecircumferential direction C where the second sensor 122 does not overlapwith the first sensor 121.

FIG. 5 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of anotherexemplary monitoring and control system 100 in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the system 100includes an annular sensing ring collectively formed by a first sensor121 disposed within the flow passage 112 and extending along thecircumferential direction C, a second sensor 122 disposed within theflow passage 112 and extending along the circumferential direction C,and a third sensor 123 disposed within the flow passage 112 andextending along the circumferential direction C. As further shown inFIG. 5, the system 100 includes a first outer sensor 126 disposed withinthe flow passage 112 and extending along the circumferential direction Cand a second outer sensor 128 disposed within the flow passage 112 andextending along the circumferential direction C. Notably, the first andsecond outer sensors 126, 128 are disposed in an overlapped arrangementand are disposed outward of the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124, e.g., alongthe radial direction R. Moreover, the first and second outer sensors126, 128 form a partial annular sensing ring or a ring segment. Further,the first and second outer sensors 126, 128 are disposed within the sameaxial plane as the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 (i.e., a plane orthogonalto the axial direction A). For this embodiment, one or morecharacteristics of the fluid flowing through the flow passage 112 of theflow duct 110 may be sensed at a radially inward position, e.g., by thesensors 121, 122, 123, 124, and at a radially outward position, e.g., bythe first and second outer sensors 126, 128. In this way, a greaterlevel of fidelity of the characteristics of the fluid at this particularaxial plane of the flow duct 110 may be achieved.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, for this embodiment, the first and secondouter sensors 126, 128 define a first outer overlap sensing region FS1extending along the circumferential direction C where the first outersensor 126 and the second outer sensor 128 physically overlap oneanother along the circumferential direction C. Notably, the first outeroverlap sensing region FS1 is offset from the first overlap sensingregion SR1 and the third overlap sensing region SR3, e.g., along thecircumferential direction C. In some embodiments, however, the firstouter overlap sensing region FS1 and one of the other overlap sensingregions may be aligned along the circumferential direction C.

FIG. 6 provides a schematic, axial cross sectional view of anotherexemplary monitoring and control system 100 for a flow duct inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6,for this embodiment, one or more operational components are disposed atleast partially within or along the flow passage 112. In particular, afirst operational component 131, a second operational component 132, anda third operational component 133 is positioned within or along the flowpassage 112 of the flow duct 110. For this embodiment, the firstoperational component 131 is disposed at least partially within thefirst overlap sensing region SR1 along the circumferential direction C.Further, the first operational component 131 is disposed at leastpartially within or proximate the first overlap sensing region SR1 alongthe axial direction A and the radial direction R. The second operationalcomponent 132 is disposed at least partially within the first sensingregion S1 along the circumferential direction C and is disposed at leastpartially within or proximate the first sensing region S1 along theaxial direction A and the radial direction R. The third operationalcomponent 133 is disposed at least partially within the second sensingregion S2 along the circumferential direction C and is disposed at leastpartially within or proximate the second sensing region S2 along theaxial direction A and the radial direction R as shown.

The first operational component 131, the second operational component132, and the third operational component 133 may be any suitableoperational components. For the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6, forexample, the first operational component 131 is a heat exchanger, thesecond operational component 132 is a supply line in fluid communicationwith the heat exchanger, and the third operational component 133 is areturn line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. As notedabove, the first operational component 131, or heat exchanger, isdisposed at least partially within the first overlap sensing region SR1along the circumferential direction C and at least partially within orproximate the first overlap sensing region SR1 along the axial andradial directions A, R. Moreover, the second operational component 132and the third operational component 133, or supply and return lines,respectively, are disposed at least partially within the first andsecond sensing regions S1, S2, respectively, along the circumferentialdirection C and are disposed at least partially within or proximatetheir respective sensing regions S1, S2 along the axial and radialdirections A, R. It will be appreciated that the inverse of thearrangement of the operational components is also possible. Forinstance, the first operational component 131 or heat exchanger in thisembodiment may be disposed within one of the sensing regions and thesecond and third operational components may be disposed at leastpartially within one of the overlap sensing regions.

By strategically arranging the sensing regions or sensing overlapregions defined by the sensors of the system 100, the system 100 maybetter evaluate the performance of certain operational components, suchas e.g., the operational components 131, 132, 133 of FIG. 6. That is,the overlapped arrangement of the sensors provide more granularity thancould otherwise be achieved with conventional arrangements.Specifically, the overlapped arrangement of the sensors enables themonitoring and control system 100 to isolate various impacts of heatexchanger performance, or more broadly the performance of anyoperational component, with a higher level of granularity than wouldotherwise be available with other sensor arrangements. Addinggranularity to the system's measurement capabilities without addingweight or interfaces to the system allows for better performancemodeling and prognostics and health management (PHM) of systems forwhich the monitoring and control system 100 is designed, such as e.g., aturbine engine. Additional interfaces, such as I/O interfaces, mayimpact the size and cost of the controller 120. An exemplary manner inwhich the system 100 may be operated and controlled is provided below.

FIG. 7 provides a block diagram of an exemplary process flow of anexemplary monitoring and control system in accordance with exemplaryaspects of the present disclosure. For instance, the system may be thesystem 100 of FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the controller 120 iscommunicatively coupled with the averaging sensors, including the firstaveraging sensor 121, the second averaging sensor 122, the thirdaveraging sensor 123, and the fourth averaging sensor 124.

As shown particularly in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, for a particulartime step of the controller 120 or at certain predetermined intervals,the controller 120 receives one or more signals from the sensors 121,122, 123, 124. For instance, for this embodiment, the controller 120 isconfigured to receive a first signal SG1 from the first averaging sensor121 indicative of a characteristic of the fluid flowing proximate thefirst averaging sensor 121. The controller 120 is also configured toreceive a second signal SG2 from the second averaging sensor 122indicative of a characteristic of the fluid flowing proximate the secondaveraging sensor 122. The controller 120 is also configured to receive athird signal SG3 from the third averaging sensor 123 indicative of acharacteristic of the fluid flowing proximate the third averaging sensor123. Moreover, the controller 120 is configured to receive a fourthsignal SG4 from the fourth averaging sensor 124 indicative of acharacteristic of the fluid flowing proximate the fourth averagingsensor 124. In other alternative embodiments, if the system 100 includesmore than four (4) sensors, the controller 120 may receive signals fromthe other sensors as well. The controller 120 may receive the signalsdirectly from the sensors or indirectly, e.g., through one or moreelectronic components and/or processing filters.

Once the controller 120 receives the signals from the various sensors121, 122, 123, 124 of the system 100, the controller 120 determines acomponent status 140 of one or more operational components of the system100. For instance, the controller 120 may determine the component statusof the first operational component 131, the second operational component132, the third operational component 133, as well as other operationalcomponents 130 disposed within the flow passage 112 or fluidly connectedtherewith as shown in FIG. 6. The component status of each of thecomponents is determined based at least in part on the signals receivedfrom the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124. The component status can be, forexample, whether the operational component is “operating in range” or“operating out-of-range.” Other statuses of the operational componentsare possible. Based on the determined component status, the controllermay generate a control action 150 as shown in FIG. 7 and as will beexplained further below.

With reference to the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6, as shown thesensing regions defined by the sensors 121, 122, 123, 124 arestrategically positioned to be positioned proximate certain operationalcomponents of interest. For instance, the first operational component131 is disposed at least partially within the first overlap sensingregion SR1, the second operational component 132 is disposed within thefirst sensing region S1, the third operational component 133 is disposedwithin the second sensing region S2, and the other sensing regions arepositioned proximate other operational components 130 of interest.

One manner in which the component status of the first operationalcomponent 131 may be determined is provided as follows. Notably, thefirst operational component 131 is disposed at least partially withinthe first overlap sensing region SR1. Accordingly, the component statusof the first operational component 131 is determined based at least inpart on the first signal SG1 and the second signal SG2. Moreparticularly, the controller 120 ascertains whether the first averagingsensor 121 is registering or has registered the characteristic of thefluid within a first predetermined operating range based at least inpart on the first signal SG1. The controller 120 also ascertains whetherthe second averaging sensor 122 is registering the characteristic of thefluid within a second predetermined operating range based at least inpart on the second signal SG2.

In one scenario, if both the first and second sensors 121, 122 haveregistered the characteristic of the fluid proximate their respectivelocations within their respective predetermined operating ranges, thenthe controller 120 determines that the first operational component 131is operating in range. A control action may be generated based on suchstatus. For instance, the controller 120 may generate a communicationrepresentative of the status and the sensed data and may forward it to asuitable computing system or model for further analysis, such as e.g., alifing model, a maintenance model, a PHM model, some combinationthereof, etc. A control action may also include instructions foroperating the system driving or forcing the fluid through the flowpassage 112 to adjust its parameters in order to drive thecharacteristic to an optimal operating point. Other example controlactions may be generated by the controller 120.

In another scenario, if one but not both of the first and second sensors121, 122 have registered the characteristic of the fluid proximate theirrespective locations within their respective predetermined operatingranges, then the controller 120 determines that the first operationalcomponent 131 is operating in range but that some other operationalcomponent, such as the second operational component 132 disposed withinthe first sensing region S1 or the third operational component 133disposed within the second sensing region S2, is not in operating rangedepending on which sensor is registering a characteristic that is not inoperating range. A control action may be generated based on such status.

In yet another scenario, if both the first and second sensors 121, 122have registered the characteristic of the fluid proximate theirrespective locations not within their respective predetermined operatingranges, then the controller 120 determines that the first operationalcomponent 131 is not operating in range. A control action may begenerated based on such status. For instance, the controller 120 maygenerate a communication representative of the status and the senseddata and may forward it to a suitable computing system or model forfurther analysis, such as e.g., a lifing model, a maintenance model, aPHM model, some combination thereof, etc. The control action may alsoinclude flagging the component. For instance, the first operationalcomponent may be flagged as a failure and a communication may beforwarded to a maintenance crew, or in some instance, the component canbe automatically shut or turned off. Additionally or alternatively, thecontrol action may include instructions for operating the system drivingor forcing the fluid through the flow passage 112 to adjust itsparameters in order to drive the characteristic to an optimal operatingpoint. Other example control actions may be generated by the controller120.

One manner in which the component status of the second operationalcomponent 132 may be determined is provided as follows. Notably, thesecond operational component 132 is disposed within the first sensingregion S1. Accordingly, the component status of the second operationalcomponent 132 is determined based at least in part on the first signalSG1, the second signal SG2, and the fourth signal SG4. Moreparticularly, the controller 120 ascertains whether the first averagingsensor 121 is registering or has registered the characteristic of thefluid within a first predetermined operating range based at least inpart on the first signal SG1. The controller 120 also ascertains whetherthe second averaging sensor 122 is registering the characteristic of thefluid within a second predetermined operating range based at least inpart on the second signal SG2. The controller 120 further ascertainswhether the fourth averaging sensor 124 is registering or has registeredthe characteristic of the fluid within a fourth predetermined operatingrange based at least in part on the fourth signal SG4.

In one scenario, if the first sensor 121 has registered thecharacteristic of the fluid proximate the first sensor 121 within thefirst predetermined operating range, then the controller 120 determinesthat the second operational component 132 is operating in range. Acontrol action may be generated based on such status. In anotherscenario, if both the first and second sensors 121, 122 have registeredthe characteristic of the fluid proximate their respective locations notwithin their respective predetermined operating ranges, then thecontroller 120 determines that the first operational component 131 isnot operating in range and that the second operational component 132 islikely operating in range. A control action may be generated based onsuch status. Similarly, in yet another scenario, if both the first andfourth sensors 121, 124 have registered the characteristic of the fluidproximate their respective locations not within their respectivepredetermined operating ranges, then the controller 120 determines thatthe operational component 130 disposed within the forth overlap sensingregion SR4 is not operating in range and that the second operationalcomponent 132 is likely operating in range. A control action may begenerated based on such status.

One manner in which the component status of the third operationalcomponent 133 may be determined is provided as follows. Notably, thethird operational component 133 is disposed within the second sensingregion S2. Accordingly, the component status of the third operationalcomponent 133 is determined based at least in part on the first signalSG1, the second signal SG2, and the third signal SG3. More particularly,the controller 120 ascertains whether the first averaging sensor 121 isregistering or has registered the characteristic of the fluid within afirst predetermined operating range based at least in part on the firstsignal SG1. The controller 120 also ascertains whether the secondaveraging sensor 122 is registering the characteristic of the fluidwithin a second predetermined operating range based at least in part onthe second signal SG2. The controller 120 further ascertains whether thethird averaging sensor 123 is registering or has registered thecharacteristic of the fluid within a third predetermined operating rangebased at least in part on the third signal SG3.

In one scenario, if the second sensor 122 has registered thecharacteristic of the fluid proximate the second sensor 122 within thesecond predetermined operating range, then the controller 120 determinesthat the third operational component 133 is operating in range. Acontrol action may be generated based on such status. In anotherscenario, if both the first and second sensors 121, 122 have registeredthe characteristic of the fluid proximate their respective locations notwithin their respective predetermined operating ranges, then thecontroller 120 determines that the first operational component 131 isnot operating in range and that the third operational component 133 islikely operating in range. A control action may be generated based onsuch status. Similarly, in yet another scenario, if both the first andthird sensors 121, 123 have registered the characteristic of the fluidproximate their respective locations not within their respectivepredetermined operating ranges, then the controller 120 determines thatthe operational component 130 disposed within the third overlap sensingregion SR3 is not operating in range and that the third operationalcomponent 133 is likely operating in range. A control action may begenerated based on such status. As shown and described, the overlappedarrangement of the sensors provides improved sensing capability comparedto non-overlapped sensor arrangements.

FIG. 8 provides a flow diagram of an exemplary method (200) fordetermining a component status of an operational component disposedwithin a flow passage defined by a flow duct utilizing a systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The flowduct defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and acircumferential direction. The system includes a first averaging sensorextending along the circumferential direction within the flow passageand a second averaging sensor extending along the circumferentialdirection within the flow passage. The first averaging sensor and thesecond averaging sensor at least partially physically overlap oneanother along the circumferential direction. Some or all of the method(200) can be implemented by the controller of one of the exemplarymonitoring and control systems disclosed herein. The method may beimplemented for any suitable flow duct, e.g., a high bypass duct for aturbine engine, a core air flowpath of a turbine engine, a pipe or tubefor a chemical, power, petroleum, or water treatment plant, etc. Othersuitable applications are possible.

At (202), the method (200) includes flowing a fluid through the flowpassage. For instance, the fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The flowpassage may be defined by a flow duct having an annular, circular, orgenerally curved shape. As one example, the flow duct defining the flowpassage may be a high bypass duct of a turbine engine, such as e.g., theturbofan 10 of FIG. 1. As noted previously, during operation of theturbofan 10, air flows through the high bypass duct, e.g., to producethrust. The fluid may be actively forced through the fluid passage(e.g., by a pump) or may passively flow through or along the flowpassage (e.g., by the gravity).

At (204), the method (200) includes receiving a first signal from thefirst averaging sensor indicative of a characteristic of the fluidproximate the first averaging sensor. For instance, the first averagingsensor may sense a characteristic of the fluid flowing proximate thefirst averaging sensor and may generate a first signal. Once generated,the first signal is routed, e.g., via a wired or wireless connection, toa controller, e.g., controller 120. The first signal is indicative ofthe average of the characteristic over the circumferential length of thefirst averaging sensor. The controller may receive signals from thefirst averaging sensor continuously, e.g., at each time step of thecontroller, or at predetermined intervals. The controller receives thefirst signal and may process the signal in a manner described furtherbelow.

At (206), the method (200) includes receiving a second signal from thesecond averaging sensor indicative of a characteristic of the fluidproximate the second averaging sensor. For instance, similar to thefirst averaging sensor, the second averaging sensor may sense acharacteristic of the fluid flowing proximate the second averagingsensor and may generate a second signal. Once generated, the secondsignal is routed, e.g., via a wired or wireless connection, to thecontroller. The second signal is indicative of the average of thecharacteristic over the circumferential length of the second averagingsensor. The controller may receive signals from the second averagingsensor continuously, e.g., at each time step of the controller, or atpredetermined intervals. The controller receives the second signal andmay process the signal in a manner described further below.

In some implementations, the characteristic of the fluid of the firstsignal and the characteristic of the fluid of the second signal is atemperature of the fluid. In some implementations, the characteristic ofthe fluid of the first signal and the characteristic of the fluid of thesecond signal is a pressure of the fluid. In some implementations, thefirst and second signals may be indicative of both temperature andpressure. In some implementations, the characteristic of the fluid ofthe first and second signals may be the mass flow of the fluid flowingthrough the flow passage. In some further implementations, the systemmay include additional sensors configured for sensing a characteristicof the fluid proximate their respective sensors. In suchimplementations, the characteristic of the fluid sensed by such sensorsmay be the same as the characteristic of the first and second signals.

At (208), the method (200) includes determining the component status ofthe operational component based at least in part on the first signal andthe second signal. For instance, once the controller receives the firstand second signals (204) and (206), respectively, the controllerprocesses the signals to determine the status of the component disposedwithin the flow passage. The component status can be, for example,whether the operational component is “operating properly” or “notoperating properly.” Other statuses of the operational component arepossible. Based on the determined component status, the controller maygenerate a control action as noted below at (210).

At (210), the method (200) includes generating a control action based atleast in part on the component status of the operational component. Asone example, a control action can be generated that is representative ofa communication to one or more health monitoring models of thecontroller or offboard computing system. As another example, a controlaction can be generated that is representative of a communication to PHMmodel. As yet another example, a control action can be generated that isrepresentative of a communication to the components of the controller oranother controller for controlling or adjusting the operationalcomponent or some other system in a way that settles the characteristicof the fluid within a predetermined operating range. For instance, oneor more actuators may be adjusted to change the mass flow of the fluidthrough the flow passage, one or more bleed valves may be opened toadjust the pressure within the flow passage, etc.

In some implementations, determining the component status of theoperational component based at least in part on the first signal and thesecond signal at (208) includes i) ascertaining whether the firstaveraging sensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid within afirst predetermined operating range based at least in part on the firstsignal; and ii) ascertaining whether the second averaging sensor isregistering the characteristic of the fluid within a secondpredetermined operating range based at least in part on the secondsignal. In such implementations, the control action is generated at(210) based at least in part on whether the first averaging sensor isregistering the characteristic of the fluid within the firstpredetermined operating range and whether the second averaging sensor isregistering the characteristic of the fluid within the secondpredetermined operating range.

For example, suppose the flow duct is an annular bypass duct of aturbine engine configured for producing thrust for an aerial vehicle,such as e.g., the bypass duct 56 of the gas turbine engine 10 of FIG. 1.Under normal operating conditions for a particular engine speed andaltitude, suppose that the controller 120 has a lookup table thatassociates a temperature range expected within the bypass duct proximatethe first sensor and proximate the second sensor. Upon receiving thefirst and second signals from the sensors, the controller determines, byusing the look up table, whether the characteristic of the fluidproximate the first sensor, which is temperature in this example, iswithin the first predetermined operating range and whether thecharacteristic of the fluid proximate the second sensor is within thesecond predetermined operating range. Depending on where the operationalcomponent is disposed within the flow duct, whether the fluidcharacteristics are within their respective predetermined operatingranges provides insight into whether the operational component isworking properly.

In yet other implementations, an overlap sensing region is defined alongthe circumferential direction where the first averaging sensor and thesecond averaging sensor physically overlap one another (e.g., as shownin FIG. 4). In such implementations, the operational component isdisposed within the overlap sensing region along the circumferentialdirection and proximate the overlap sensing region along the radialdirection and the circumferential direction. If the first averagingsensor is registering that the characteristic of the fluid is not withinthe first predetermined operating range and the second averaging sensoris registering that the characteristic of the fluid is not within thesecond predetermined operating range, at (210) generating the controlaction includes flagging the operational component. For instance, thecontroller may flag the operational component as a component failure andsuch information may be communicated to a maintenance crew.

For instance, continuing with the turbofan example above, suppose theoperational component is a heat exchanger disposed at least partiallywithin the high bypass flow passage. As noted above, the heat exchangeris positioned at least partially within the overlap sensing region. Thearrangement of the first and second sensors may provide a high level ofgranularity as to whether the heat exchanger is working properly. In afirst scenario, if the first averaging sensor is registering that thecharacteristic of the fluid is within the first predetermined operatingrange and the second averaging sensor is registering that thecharacteristic of the fluid is within the second predetermined operatingrange, the controller determines that the heat exchanger and anycomponents disposed proximate the first and second sensors are workingproperly. In a second scenario, if the first averaging sensor isregistering that the characteristic of the fluid is within the firstpredetermined operating range but that the second averaging sensor isregistering that the characteristic of the fluid is not within thesecond predetermined operating range, the controller determines that theheat exchanger and any components disposed proximate the first sensorare working properly, but that one or more components disposed proximatethe second sensor are not working properly, e.g., there may be a leak orblockage in one of the fluid conduits proximate the second sensor. In athird scenario, if the first averaging sensor is registering that thecharacteristic of the fluid is not within the first predeterminedoperating range but that the second averaging sensor is registering thatthe characteristic of the fluid is within the second predeterminedoperating range, the controller determines that the heat exchanger andany components disposed proximate the second sensor are workingproperly, but that one or more components disposed proximate the firstsensor are not working properly. In a fourth scenario, if the firstaveraging sensor is registering that the characteristic of the fluidproximate the first sensor is not within the first predeterminedoperating range and the second averaging sensor is registering that thecharacteristic of the fluid proximate the second sensor is not withinthe second predetermined operating range, the controller determines thatthe heat exchanger is not working properly as both sensors areregistering that the fluid characteristics are out of their respectivepredetermined operating ranges. Advantageously, as provided above, theoverlapped arrangement of the two sensors provides three sensingregions, thereby providing more granularity relating to the fluidcharacteristics flowing within the flow passage. It will be appreciatedthat the heat exchanger may be positioned in other sensing regions, suchas e.g., non-overlap sensing regions.

In some implementations, the system further includes a third averagingsensor extending along the circumferential direction within the flowpassage (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5). The third averaging sensor at leastpartially physically overlaps at least one of the first averaging sensorand the second averaging sensor along the circumferential direction. Forinstance, as shown in FIG. 5, the third averaging sensor 123 physicallyoverlaps the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122. In suchimplementations, the method (200) further includes receiving a thirdsignal from the third averaging sensor indicative of a characteristic ofthe fluid proximate the third averaging sensor. Accordingly, determiningthe component status of the operational component at (208) is based atleast in part on the third signal. In some implementations, determiningthe component status of the operational component based at least in parton the third signal includes ascertaining whether the third averagingsensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid within a thirdpredetermined operating range based at least in part on the thirdsignal. The control action is generated at (210) based at least in parton whether the third averaging sensor is registering the characteristicof the fluid within the third predetermined operating range.

In some implementations, the flow duct defines an axial centerline. Insuch implementations, the first averaging sensor, the second averagingsensor, and the third averaging sensor of the system collectively form asensing ring extending about the axial centerline along thecircumferential direction. For instance, in FIG. 5 the first, second,and third sensors 121, 122, 123 collectively form a sensor ringextending about the axial centerline AC. In other exemplaryimplementations, the first averaging sensor, the second averagingsensor, and the third averaging sensor of the system collectively form asegment of a sensing ring.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for a flow duct defining a flow passageand an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferentialdirection, the system comprising: a first sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage; and a second sensorextending along the circumferential direction within the flow passage,wherein the first sensor extends along the circumferential directionsuch that at least a portion of the first sensor physically overlaps thesecond sensor along the circumferential direction.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor both extendalong the circumferential direction in the same or substantially thesame plane along the axial direction.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe system further comprises: a third sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage, wherein the thirdsensor extends along the circumferential direction such that the thirdsensor physically overlaps the first sensor along the circumferentialdirection and such that the third sensor physically overlaps the secondsensor along the circumferential direction.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are averaging sensors. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the flow duct is an annular bypass ductof a turbine engine.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensorand the second sensor define an overlap sensing region along thecircumferential direction where the first sensor and the second sensorphysically overlap one another along the circumferential direction, andwherein the first sensor defines a first sensing region along thecircumferential direction where the first sensor and the second sensordo not overlap and the second sensor defines a second sensing regionalong the circumferential direction where the second sensor and thefirst sensor do not overlap, and wherein the system further comprises: afirst operational component disposed within the flow passage anddisposed at least partially within the overlap sensing region along thecircumferential direction, and wherein the first operational componentis positioned proximate the overlap sensing region along the axialdirection and the radial direction.
 7. The system of claim 6, furthercomprising: a second operational component in fluid communication withthe first operational component; and a third operational component influid communication with the first operational component; wherein thesecond operational component and the third operational component aredisposed within the flow passage and within one of the first sensingregion and the second sensing region along the circumferentialdirection, and wherein the second operational component and the thirdoperational component are positioned proximate one of the first sensingregion and the second sensing region along the axial direction and theradial direction.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising: acontroller communicatively coupled with the first sensor and the secondsensor, the controller configured to: receive a first signal from thefirst sensor indicative of a characteristic of the fluid proximate thefirst sensor; receive a second signal from the second sensor indicativeof a characteristic of the fluid proximate the second sensor; determinea component status of one or more of the first, second, and thirdoperational components based at least in part on the first signal andthe second signal; and generate a control action based at least in parton the component status of the one or more of the first, second, andthird operational components.
 9. A method for determining a componentstatus of an operational component disposed within a flow passagedefined by a flow duct utilizing a system, the flow duct defining anaxial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction,the system comprising a first averaging sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage and a second averagingsensor extending along the circumferential direction within the flowpassage, the method comprising: flowing a fluid through the flowpassage; receiving a first signal from the first averaging sensorindicative of a characteristic of the fluid proximate the firstaveraging sensor; receiving a second signal from the second averagingsensor indicative of a characteristic of the fluid proximate the secondaveraging sensor, wherein the first averaging sensor and the secondaveraging sensor at least partially physically overlap one another alongthe circumferential direction; determining the component status of theoperational component based at least in part on the first signal and thesecond signal; and generating a control action based at least in part onthe component status of the operational component.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein determining the component status of the operationalcomponent based at least in part on the first signal and the secondsignal comprises: ascertaining whether the first averaging sensor isregistering the characteristic of the fluid within a first predeterminedoperating range based at least in part on the first signal; andascertaining whether the second averaging sensor is registering thecharacteristic of the fluid within a second predetermined operatingrange based at least in part on the second signal; wherein the controlaction is generated based at least in part on whether the firstaveraging sensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid withinthe first predetermined operating range and whether the second averagingsensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid within the secondpredetermined operating range.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein anoverlap sensing region is defined along the circumferential directionwhere the first averaging sensor and the second averaging sensorphysically overlap one another, and wherein the operational component isdisposed within the overlap sensing region along the circumferentialdirection and proximate the overlap sensing region along the radialdirection and the circumferential direction, and wherein if the firstaveraging sensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid notwithin the first predetermined operating range and the second averagingsensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid not within thesecond predetermined operating range, generating the control actioncomprises flagging the operational component.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the system further comprises a third averaging sensor extendingalong the circumferential direction within the flow passage, the thirdaveraging sensor at least partially physically overlapping at least oneof the first averaging sensor and the second averaging sensor along thecircumferential direction, the method further comprising: receiving athird signal from the third averaging sensor indicative of acharacteristic of the fluid proximate the third averaging sensor;wherein determining the component status of the operational component isbased at least in part on the third signal, and wherein determining thecomponent status of the operational component based at least in part onthe third signal comprises: ascertaining whether the third averagingsensor is registering the characteristic of the fluid within a thirdpredetermined operating range based at least in part on the thirdsignal, and wherein the control action is generated based at least inpart on whether the third averaging sensor is registering thecharacteristic of the fluid within the third predetermined operatingrange.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the flow duct defines anaxial centerline, and wherein the first averaging sensor, the secondaveraging sensor, and the third averaging sensor collectively form asensing ring extending about the axial centerline along thecircumferential direction.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein thecharacteristic of the fluid of the first signal and the characteristicof the fluid of the second signal is at least one of a temperature and apressure of the fluid.
 15. A system for a flow duct defining a flowpassage for receiving a fluid therethrough, the flow duct furtherdefining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferentialdirection, the system comprising: a first averaging sensor extendingalong the circumferential direction within the flow passage; a secondaveraging sensor extending along the circumferential direction withinthe flow passage; and a third averaging sensor extending along thecircumferential direction within the flow passage, wherein the secondaveraging sensor extends along the circumferential direction such thatat least a portion of the second averaging sensor physically overlapsthe first averaging sensor along the circumferential direction and suchthat at least a portion of the second averaging sensor physicallyoverlaps the third averaging sensor along the circumferential direction,and wherein the first averaging sensor, the second averaging sensor, andthe third averaging sensor are positioned proximate one another alongthe axial direction.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the firstaveraging sensor, the second averaging sensor, and the third averagingsensor are positioned in the same plane along the axial direction. 17.The system of claim 15, further comprising: a first sensor spaced fromthe first averaging sensor, the second averaging sensor, and the thirdaveraging sensor along the radial direction, the first sensor extendingalong the circumferential direction within the flow passage; and asecond sensor spaced proximate the first sensor along the radialdirection and spaced from the first averaging sensor, the secondaveraging sensor, and the third averaging sensor along the radialdirection, the second sensor extending along the circumferentialdirection within the flow passage such that at least a portion of thesecond sensor physically overlaps the first sensor along thecircumferential direction.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the thirdaveraging sensor extends along the circumferential direction such thatat least a portion of the third averaging sensor physically overlaps thefirst averaging sensor along the circumferential direction.
 19. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the first averaging sensor and the secondaveraging sensor define a first overlap sensing region along thecircumferential direction where the first averaging sensor and thesecond averaging sensor physically overlap one another along thecircumferential direction and the second averaging sensor and the thirdaveraging sensor define a second overlap sensing region along thecircumferential direction where the second averaging sensor and thethird averaging sensor physically overlap one another along thecircumferential direction, and wherein a first operational component ispositioned at least partially within the first overlap sensing regionalong the circumferential direction, a second operational component ispositioned at least partially within the second overlap sensing regionalong the circumferential direction, and wherein the first operationalcomponent is positioned proximate the first overlap sensing region alongthe axial direction and the radial direction and the second operationalcomponent is positioned proximate the second overlap sensing regionalong the axial direction and the radial direction.
 20. The system ofclaim 19, further comprising: a controller communicatively coupled withthe first averaging sensor, the second averaging sensor, and the thirdaveraging sensor, the controller configured to: receive a first signalfrom the first averaging sensor indicative of a characteristic of thefluid flowing proximate the first averaging sensor; receive a secondsignal from the second averaging sensor indicative of the characteristicof the fluid flowing proximate the second averaging sensor; receive athird signal from the third averaging sensor indicative of thecharacteristic of the fluid flowing proximate the third averagingsensor; determine a component status of at least one of the firstoperational component and the second operational component by:ascertaining whether the first averaging sensor registered thecharacteristic of the fluid within a first predetermined operating rangebased at least in part on the first signal; ascertaining whether thesecond averaging sensor registered the characteristic of the fluidwithin a second predetermined operating range based at least in part onthe second signal; ascertaining whether the third averaging sensorregistered the characteristic of the fluid within a third predeterminedoperating range based at least in part on the third signal; generate acontrol action based at least in part on the component status of atleast one of the first operational component and the second operationalcomponent based at least in part on whether the first averaging sensorregistered the characteristic of the fluid within the firstpredetermined operating range, whether the second averaging sensorregistered the characteristic of the fluid within the secondpredetermined operating range, and whether the third averaging sensorregistered the characteristic of the fluid within the thirdpredetermined operating range.